The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-03-23
The CADETSHIp.
by JAMES FRANKLIN rITTs.

We are Old men now-Carroll and l. He
is sixty eight, and am two years his
Junior. Excepting brief period, OF which
something will be said by and by, we have
lived all our lives together. AS boys We
were broueht up in The same family; after
1 had graduated mt West Point my leave
was passed at home; and only short in
terval followed before l was severely
wounded mt Buena Vista. That day made
me cripple and an invalid for life, and a
Government pensioner. 1t was ut CAROLS
fireside that l found hearty and affection
ate welcome; and nothing, during all the
years that have since passed, has happened
to make me regret that / consented when
Carroll insisted that this should always be
my home. have seen his children grow
up in this house; some have died. some
have married; of all the happy family that
1 have seen here i'll these forty years, there
only remain now Carroll and his good old
wife, and two orphan grand children.
To have fought in the Mexican war: to
have seen Scott and Taylor in command;
to have survived the stern experience of
Buena Vista, even az u physical wreck
these things, it may be thought, should
qualify me TO tell long and interesting sto-
ries of marching, fighting, and campIigp-
ing. And SO they do. CAROLS boys
could testify that they have heard Uncle
Carson talk of his experience in Mexico by
the hour; and their uncle can certify that
the youngsters were never satisfied. But
! did not take up my pen TO relate any
thing of this kind. The subsequent his
tory of our country shows that such expe-
fiences are common enough now; the
newspapers and magazines are full of
them. What | do wish to say relates TO
something that is not so common--to no.
bility Of heart, to tender brotherly affection
to Carroll, in short, God bless him,
Something that he had concealed from me
for years he was LED, by his sense of duty,
into revealing last nis ut; and ii has so af-
fected me that it must be set down.
Observation has shown me that in most
families tlere is much pickering and quar-
reling among the children. Not being n
philosopher, and having been condemned
by the circumstances | have named to be
q bachelor, l caunot account for this un-
pleasant fact. What has impressed the
fact more deeply upon my mind is the very
sharp contrast that find upon going back
to the days of my boyhood. If Carroll and
ever had quarrel, L cannot now remem-
Der it. We played together, studied to-
gether, worked together, in the utmost
harmony. We were the only children of
the family, and our brotheily attachment
strengthened as we grew. One wise and
deeply boy at school / remember, who
called us Damon and Pythias. In DISPOSE
ton and tastes we were not at all alike.
Carroll was rather reserved, studious,
thoughtful, and earnest; l was not over
fond of my book, and was beadlong and
impulsive. My iun was of the boisterous
and noisy kind; he had a fine sense of hu-
NOR, and would say amusing things, with a
twinkle of the eye, but a very straight
face.
We were large lads, we'll grown, healthy,
and advanced in our studies, so that The
question as to whether we or either of us
should go to college had been 10 some ex-
cent discussed, when father came III one
evening looking rather serious, with O let
ter in his hand. He was one of that rattle"
rare kind of parents who treat their boys
with the utmost frankness, and get their
confidence by freely giving their own.
"Boys," he said, " here is something that
really troubles Inc. L might as well tell
you atout it at once. 1t is letter from
Mr.. Sanders, our Representative in Con-
gress. He says that there is a vacancy in
the Military Academy at West Point, and
that he can control the appointment. He
is one of my best friends, and lie offers the
'cadetship for one of you. l think"
/ interrupted him before he could express
clapped my hands, and cried:
-Oh, father, let me go! I'd like it above
all things"
thought shade of surprise crossed his
face.
I'm doubtful, Carson, whether this
would be just the thing for you. Do you
think you would like military ilfe?'
81 knoW L should.
"But you don't know what West Point
l. /. r
of study, and the discipline of tho place."
"Otber boys have succeeded there; /
shall not fail"
My father smiled at the largeness of my
boast
Carroll, what dc you think of this?" he
asked.
was very eager to get my fathers con-
sent, but did not fail to observe that my
brother was very much affected by my de-
termination. He seemed not only greatly
surprised, but panied also. Father had to
repeat the question before he answered.
II don't know, sir. This is very sud
den. never supposed that Carson wanted
TO be a soldier"
Il never said 1 did," was my comment.
~But, now that the thing is mentioned, and
there seems TO be chance, / can see with
out one minutes thinking that it's just the
ching for me-
never was more in earnest, nor more
honest, in my life; but the expression of
my fathers face showed me that he regard
ed me as a rattle Drained boy.
GO on, Carroll" he said.
IL don't know what to saw, sir. 1t isn't
the career / should have chosen for Car
son. But if he thinks il is the one that
would suit him best, / suppose sup
pose"
He got up and hastily left the room.
IL seemed strange to me that Carroll
should look so far ahead as to be so much
affected at the thought OF the dangers of
the soldiers life; but knew his affection
for me, and / felt touched by this proof of
d.
Ny father wrote to Mr.. Sanders. thank
Ding HIM for the offer, and asking for one
week in which to decide In the meantime
he talked 10 mo very seriously about the